2005 USATF Mountain Runner of the Year Nominations
By MATT CARPENTER On Friday, November 4, 2005 I received the following email:
----- Original Message ----- If you have received this email ... CONGRATULATIONS ... you’ve been nominated by your peers for the USATF Runner of the Year Award!
There are two categories for the Award (with Open men’s & women’s and Masters’ men’s & women’s for each, for a total of eight awards): USATF’s Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council is finalizing the ballot, with voting scheduled for next week. First, however, we would like to confirm that we are recognizing every runner’s main accomplishments and contributions to the sport since last November, 2004. If you would , please provide us with a summary by the end of the business day, Monday, November 7, 2005. Don’t be shy or bashful; feel free to list items you may think are too minor. It could make a difference as voters are weighing the candidates. We apologize for the short notice, but the USATF convention takes place in early December (winners are announced during the convention) and we wanted to confirm that all major October, 2005 events had taken place. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please let me or Nancy Hobbs (e-mail removed to prevent spam) know if you have any questions. Sincerely, - Garett Graubins
Garett Graubins, Senior Editor
Tel: 970-704-1442 x12
This is the “summary” I sent them as per their request:
I have made a good faith effort to let it be known that I am not a USATF member by choice. Apparently a race made me a member despite my refusal to pay the membership fee. For several years now I have refused to become a USATF member even when I have been threatened with not being able to receive prize money because I believe a principle is not a principle if we only let it guide us when it is convenient. Simply, it is my principle belief that USATF does not do much to support the sport of mountain running. Therefore, it would be hypocritical of me to accept an award from an organization that I feel is doing next to nothing for my sport. However, I do not wish to decline the nominations I have received because I am very grateful and honored by those people that took the time to nominate me despite not knowing how I became a USATF member or my opinions about USATF. If it turns out that I win a USATF award I will use the opportunity to decline it and more fully express my opinions.
Update:
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